Never skimp on these parts when building a PC

• Don’t skimp on key components like motherboard, CPU cooler, case fans, and power supply unit for a reliable PC build.
• Prioritize features like VRM, M.2 slots, RAM support in motherboard, and optimal airflow and cooling for CPU and GPU.
• Expensive doesn’t always mean better – choose components based on compatibility and requirements for a balanced PC build.

Building a PC doesn’t have to be expensive all the time, and there are plenty of components on the market right now to prove that. It is true that you may not get the latest and the best component out there when you stretch your budget a bit thin, but it’s entirely possible to put together a solid PC without burning a huge hole in your wallet.

That, of course, doesn’t mean you should skimp on the essentials. In fact, the axiom “buy cheap, buy twice,” really applies here, and I learned it the hard way when I skimped on some crucial components back in the day as a beginner. If you are new to the world of PCs and are wondering which components to skimp on, then I’ve highlighted a few parts below that should never go cheap on.

Motherboard

Your PC needs a strong and reliable base

Close

Motherboards aren’t necessarily the most expensive components you’ll buy for your build, but they can put a huge dent in your wallet depending on what you want. You don’t need the most advanced motherboard out there for your PC with all the fancy features, but you also wouldn’t want to put, say, an $800 GPU and a $400 CPU on a $60 or a $70 motherboard, either. A good rule of thumb here is to look for the features that matter to you and see if you can find something for a reasonable price. I suggest paying more attention to things like the motherboard VRM, its M.2 slots, RAM support, etc., over some nice-to-have features like debug LEDs and pre-installed I/O shield, among other things. You shouldn’t fall for motherboard gimmicks either, as they have little to no effect on your PC’s overall performance.

Simply focus on the must-have features and the overall reliability of your motherboard instead of buying a cheap one, as it will come back to haunt you in the future. You should also look to future-proof your motherboard to ensure you don’t have to upgrade the platform in a few years if/when you plan on upgrading your processor. I remember skimping on the motherboard on one of the budget PCs I built a few years ago, only to spend more money while upgrading the CPU just a couple of years later. A motherboard may not have direct implications on your system’s overall performance, at least not significantly, but it plays a huge role in terms of reliability.

Related

5 features to look for in a new motherboard

Planning to buy a new motherboard? Here are some quality-of-life features you should keep an eye out for

CPU cooler

Don’t ignore the CPU chiller

Close

You can spend all the money you want to buy the best processor for your PC, but it’s not going to yield optimum performance without a good CPU chiller. This is particularly true in the case of high-performance CPUs that demand more support from the cooler. A lot of modern processors out there like the Core i5-14600K heavily rely on a good CPU cooler to churn out good performance.

It’s easy to skimp on CPU coolers as there’s no shortage of affordable CPU coolers out there, but keep in mind that you’ll also be compromising your CPU’s performance by doing that. If you are not comfortable spending money on an aftermarket CPU cooler, then consider picking up one of the low-power chips from AMD. There are plenty of these on the market, many of which are even suitable for gaming.

It’s also important to keep your upgrade plans in mind while shopping for this because the last thing you want to do is spend money on buying another cooler when you upgrade the CPU. I made the same mistake when I bought a very basic fan cooler for one of my low-power AMD chips, only to realize that I would need something better to handle newer chips in a just a couple of years.

A massive passive CPU cooler installed in a computer

Related

Best CPU coolers in 2024

Buying the best CPU cooler is just as important as buying any other core component. Here are some of the best CPU coolers on the market.

Case fans

An equally important piece of the puzzle

Close

Unless you’re building a fully water-cooled PC with a custom loop for both the CPU and the GPU, there is no reason for you to skimp on case fans. Case fans may not seem like crucial components as they don’t offer targeted cooling, but they’re equally important for your PC — if not more — as they move air in and out of the case to regulate the operating temperatures of components. In fact, case fans are extremely important for those using an air cooler to keep their CPU cool, as it won’t get fresh air to regulate the temperature of the heatsink. Same is the case with graphics cards too, most of which use air cooling. There was a time when I used to run my old PC with the single fan that came pre-installed on my PC case. I quickly realized it was a huge mistake when I struggled to cool the components inside my case.

Three War Hammer Kratos fans inside an MSI Forge 110R case.

Related

PC airflow guide: How to set up your case fans

You’ll need to set up proper airflow inside your PC case for optimal cooling. This guide will help you with that.

Power supply unit

Never cheap out on a PSU, ever

Close

Lastly, we have the power supply unit, which, in my opinion, is one component that you should never skimp on. If anything, I suggest investing a good amount of time and money on grabbing the best PSU you can find that fulfills your needs. Besides a motherboard, the power supply unit is one component that’s connected to most other parts of the computer, as pretty much everything on your PC needs power. Using a sub-par PSU may end up costing you a lot more in the long run by damaging other parts that are connected to it, so avoid stretching your budget thin while shopping for a PSU.

I’ve had to replace two of my old PSUs that I bought previously when I didn’t know much about building, whereas I could’ve just bought a more powerful and reliable PSU for less, to begin with. That being said, you don’t necessarily have to push the boundaries and pick an overkill PSU for your PC, either. The trick is to calculate your wattage requirements, and then finalize a PSU in that range with all the features you need. There are plenty of things you could look for in a PSU, including things like its rating, connectors, modularity, and more.

be-quiet-straight-power-750-psu-hero

Related

How do I select the right PSU for my PC?

Choosing the right PSU for your PC will save you a lot of wasted time and money

‘Expensive’ doesn’t always mean it’s good

While it’s important to never skimp on the crucial components of your PC, it’s also worth noting that ‘expensive’ doesn’t always mean it’s good. I say that because a $500 PSU with, say, 1500W and an 80+ Titanium rating isn’t necessarily better than a 750W 80+ Gold rated PSU for your build. Similarly, a high-end, top-of-the-line motherboard with all the bells and whistles isn’t always necessarily better than a budget to mid-range board for your build. It all comes down to the parts you’re installing on your PC, and you must always look at the bigger picture to how the components would pair with each other within a build.